News - July 2021 RSS Feed

It has become expedient that I address the rather disturbing occurrence at our weekend liturgies where a parishioner makes some distracting sounds as if having a religious experience right after the Gospel is proclaimed and at the beginning of the homily. Since my arrival, this has occurred on three different Sundays, and I cannot but imagine how parishioners and visitors feel when this occurs. I want you to know that I am bothered by it as much as many of you are...

John’s gospel is unique in its description of the miracles of Jesus as “signs.” Signs are not ends in themselves, but point to something beyond them. In the Church’s sacramental theology, sacraments are described as efficacious signs that communicate grace. Though signs, sacraments effect what they signify. For example, water used in baptism, not only signifies cleansing, but actually washes away sins. Not only does it signify death, burial and resurrection to new life, baptism actually is death to the old self and the birth of a new identity in Christ...

John’s gospel is unique in its description of the miracles of Jesus as “signs.” Signs are not ends in themselves, but point to something beyond them. In the Church’s sacramental theology, sacraments are described as efficacious signs that communicate grace. Though signs, sacraments effect what they signify. For example, water used in baptism, not only signifies cleansing, but actually washes away sins. Not only does it signify death, burial and resurrection to new life, baptism actually is death to the old self and the birth of a new identity in Christ...

The readings for this weekend focus on shepherds. The oracles of the prophet Jeremiah, in our First reading, are addressed to those shepherds who have not cared much for the sheep but for themselves. By so doing, they failed to mirror God’s benevolence to the sheep entrusted to them and presented a scary image of a shepherd that caused the sheep to fear and tremble. These shepherds are thus accused of scattering the flock. God then promises to give them shepherds who would care for them and gather them from all the places they have been scattered...

Do you remember the distinction Jesus made between a shepherd, the owner of the sheep, and a hireling, a paid worker? You can read it in John 10:12. The shepherd does not desert or forsake the flock when they are in danger...

The readings for this weekend bring to focus our response to rejection. Do you avoid speaking the truth because it would not be accepted? Have you ever offered words of advice and it felt like your words blew back in your face? Do you feel reluctant to speak words of correction to a family member or friend simply because of how they would react? We all have that one person or persons who would never accept us as capable of giving them advice or correction. They have become too familiar with us. Well, do not worry too much, you are in good company. Both the prophet Ezekiel and our Lord were rejected by those who should have listened to them.